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Butch frowned. “You sayin’ I should wait? But the longer I do that, the more I think he’s not gonna talk to me.”
“He’ll be back.” Teague’s voice brimmed with confidence.
Butch stared at him. “But how do youknowthat?”
Teague arched his eyebrows. “He loves you, that’s how I know.” He cocked his head. “And you love him.”
Yeah, Butch was past hiding.
“It shows, huh?”
He laughed. “Oh, just a tad.” Then his expression sobered. “Have the dreams stopped?”
It took Butch a moment or two of mental reckoning. “Yeah,” he said slowly.
“And what do you think of his… lifestyle? Could you cope with that?” He chuckled again. “Not unless you’ve suddenly discovered you’re a submissive, and that would be—” His words died as Butch’s cheeks heated up. “Oh. My. God. You dark horse. Seriously? Isthatwhat you two were doing all that week?” He grinned. “So tell me more.”
“I can’t talk about this, okay? Not when everything is so up in the air, and I have no clue what’s gonna happen.” Not when it felt as though snakes were writhing in his belly.
Teague nodded. “You’re right. And I shouldn’t have asked. I wouldn’t ask Toby what he does with the boss, right? It’s none of my business.” There was that head tilt again. “But youdolike it, whatever it is you do—did—with him?”
Butch got where Teague was coming from. “I didn’t go exploring this to please Sol, if that’s what you’re asking. I did it for me, because it felt… good.”
“Then I hope he pulls his head outta his ass and realizes what a fine man he has in you.” Teague’s voice rang with warmth and sincerity, and tears pricked the corners of Butch’s eyes.
“I don’t deserve that, not from you. Not after how I treated you.”
Teague took Butch’s hand in his. “And I’m sorry about the way I spoke to you. I got it wrong. You weren’t using him.” He squeezed Butch’s fingers. “I’m going to pray things turn out the way you want. Because you deserve that.” He released Butch’s hand.
Silence fell between them, but it was a comfortable silence, and Butch was grateful to have cleared the air. He glanced at Teague. “Can I ask you something? Those nipple clamps Toby put on you for the photos… did they really feel that good?”
Teague laughed. “Hell no, they left good in their dust—they feltamazing.”
“Something you might wanna try again someday?”
Teague’s eyes sparkled in the firelight. “Maybe?” He smiled. “You seem a little better.”
“Best I’ve felt since I got back from seeing Sol,” Butch confessed.
“Then stay here tonight. You can sleep on the couch—or in my bed if you want.” His eyes were kind. “I just thought you might need a bit of company.”
Teague’s words of so many weeks ago came back to him, and Butch knew what he had to do. He put down his glass, leaned across, and kissed Teague on the mouth, a fleeting, chaste brushing of lips. “Thank you,” he murmured. “For everything.”
Teague’s eyes glistened. “Thankyou, for that.” He wiped them.
“And now I’m gonna go back to the bunkhouse,” Butch told him. “’Bout time I got my act together around here. Tomorrow is a big day: old guests out, cleaning, new guests in…” He stood, and Teague rose too. He followed Butch to the door and stood there as Butch walked away.
“Hey, Butch?”
He stopped and turned. “Did I forget something?”
“No. Just wanted to say… I’m glad you’re my older brother.”
For the second time that night, Butch followed his instincts and seized Teague in a hug, not failing to catch Teague’s gasp.
That hug had been long overdue.
Butch released him. “Me too. Now get some sleep, Mr. Foreman. You’re way too sweet right now. You need to find your bossy head for the morning.”
